CPM-Trinamul clash, bandh in Sitalkuchi

 

COOCH BEHAR, Oct. 29: The bandh separately called by the CPI-M and the Trinamul Congress in Sitalkuchi of Cooch Behar today passed off peacefully. Cooch Behar SP Mr Anil Kumar said no untoward incident occurred during the bandh today. Police pickets are there to maintain peace, the SP said. Both the parties claimed the bandh as successful.

 

It may be mentioned here that violent clash occurred between Trinamul Congress and CPI-M supporters at Sarkarer-haat of Khalisamari in Sitalkuchi of Mathabhanga sub-division on yesterday evening. About 30 persons were injured during the clash.

 

CPI-M supporters had taken out a rally yesterday against tomorrow's SUCI sponsored bandh and asking people to make their zonal conference successful. Trinamul Congress supporters too took out a rally there demanding arrest of corrupted ration dealers. Mr Harish Barman, Sitalkuchi MLA and also CPI-M's Cooch Behar district secretariat member, alleged that Trinamul men pelted stones to their office and ransacked it. On the otherhand, district Trinamul Congress president Mr Rabindra Nath Ghosh alleged that when their supporters took out the procession demanding steps against corrupt ration dealers the CPI-M supporters attacked them.

 

Last night, eight injured CPI-M supporters were admitted to Sitalkuchi hospital while four injured Trinamul Congress supporters were shifted to Mathabhanga sub-divisional hospital. Following the incident, CPI-M called a 12-hour bandh and Trinamul Congress too called a 24-hour bandh in Sitalkuchi today. []

 

"Greater" starts poll campaign

 

COOCH BEHAR, Oct. 29: Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (GCDP) organised cultural programmes at different blocks in Cooch Behar on Saturday and Sunday to celebrate the 106-th birth anniversary of legendary Bhawaiya artiste Abbasuddin. During the cultural programmes they also campaigned asking people to get prepared for the ensuing three-tier panchayat elections, GCDP president Mr Ashutosh Barma said.

 

Yesterday, at Gosanimari in Dinhata the GCDP held a gathering where the speakers reiterated their demand for proper implementation of the merger agreement that was penned before merger of erstwhile Cooch Behar State with Union of India. They also demanded Constitutional recognition of Kamtapuri language of the Rajbanshis. Mr Barma said through the two-day programme they initiated their campaign for the ensuing three-tier panchayat polls. The executive committee of the GCDP will meet soon to decide the proposed fast-unto-death programme, he said. []